Patek Philippe
Later ref. 2525 Calatrava in a Wenger case never fails to impress—particularly when presented in such authentic condition, complete with beautifully attractive oxidation. Introduced in 1953, this reference remained in production for nearly a decade. The example offered here belongs to the earliest series and dates to 1954. What distinguishes these first executions from later iterations—beyond their inherent rarity—are the case construction and the movement. While all series feature dials manufactured by Stern Frères and cases produced by Wenger, the earliest versions are characterized by a snap-on caseback rather than the screw-down casebacks seen on subsequent examples. Measuring 36mm in diameter, the case is exceptionally well designed, featuring a concave bezel, a recessed crown, and sharply faceted lugs. The icing on the cake is the dial’s appealing oxidation. The dial layout feels surprisingly contemporary, with sharply faceted, pointed hour markers that mirror the handset, complemented by an Arabic “12.” A subtly recessed small seconds display adds a playful and well-balanced touch.
REFERENCE
2525/1
Condition
The case overall shows signs of wear, the crystal has little scratches, the crown is clean. The caseback has a larger scratch, the dial is very clean, the markers have some nice oxidation, the hands show some signs. The service history is unknown, but the watch runs nicely and good. You will get the watch on. a generic strap and pin buckle in our travel case.
Diameter
36mm
Dial
Silver with arabic 12
Movement
10-200
Case
Solid gold
Bracelet
Generic leather on generic pin buckle